THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 69 



of ten to fourteen days as the case demands. Iwo applications are usually 

 quite satisfactory. I have never seen simple copper sulphate or ammoniacal 

 copper carbonate used as a later spray for rot but I have heard them strongly 

 recommended. The San Jose scale has not appeared in Oceana county 

 yet in such numbers but that their destruction has been comparatively 

 easy with lime-sulphur or the hatchet. The Tussock Moth is a new enemy 

 to us this year and has appeared in serious numbers in some orchards. The 

 eggs are so white and deposited in such large bunches they can be easily 

 gathered in the fall or early in the spring and the insect held in check. 



To keep the orchard in good condition of vigor and health a thorough and fre- 

 quent cultivation is indispensible. Begin about the middle of May and continue 

 until the first weeks of August and then put in the cover crop. During dry 

 spells, we must be especially active in order to conserve the soil moisture. 

 The cutaway harrow is a great labor and time saver and does excellent 

 work. It is a superb weed killer. It can be substituted for the plow in 

 many instances. This, with the spring tooth harrow and spike tooth, when 

 used judiciously will keep an orchard clean and in good condition. 



To keep up the fertility of the soil, use cover crops, barnyard manures, 

 ashes and commercial fertilizers. Spring barley or oats do fairly well as 

 cover crops for they provide considerable humus and also serve to prevent 

 washing and deep freezing. But the ideal plants for this purpose are sand 

 vetch and clover. They furnish an abundance of humus, besides they 

 are legumes, and hence free nitrogen gathers. Some growers discard sand 

 vetch because it so easily becomes a weed, but I believe it is one of the most 

 valuable plants for the cover crop that I know. 



Barnyard manure is invaluable as a fertilizer, especially in young orchards 

 where it should be used liberally. A few fork fulls spread about each tree 

 will give it a remarkable start and vigor which is very desirable. 



Wood ashes are a good source for potash, but they are becoming so scarce 

 that high grade commercial fertilizer, must be used. Armour's bone meal 

 and dried blood fertilizers contain about 20 per cent phosphoric acid and 

 12 per cent potash and are very good. Sow these at the same time you sow 

 the clover crop. Remember it does not pay to buy cheap commercial 

 fertilizers. 



HARVESTING AND MARKETING. 



The third part of our discussion is "harvesting and marketing." These 

 two operations need the greatest care the orchardist can give them. Alto- 

 gether too many people pick their plums too green, and rush them into the 

 market. Such fruit will reach the market in sound condition, it is true, 

 but it has not attained its full growth and color and is very inferior in quality 

 and cannot be expected to bring fancy prices. It will not do it. The plums 

 should be allowed to hang until a few of the most advanced are just beginning 

 to soften. Then, if they are the varieties the market prefers, they are bound 

 to bring the top prices. Usually two and sometimes three pickings are 

 required to remove a crop in the best condition. 



The question of marketing the fruit is the most troublesome part of this 

 topic. A large majority of shippers do not know how to market their fruit 

 to the best advantage. As I have said before, we in Oceana county, in most 

 cases, are of necessity shipping to wholesale commission markets, and this 

 puts upon us problems which other methods do not have. In the packing 

 of our plums I have found that it pays, and pays well, to use two grades. 



